San
Rafael, CA; February 2, 2006 - Berkeley
Nucleonics Corporation (BNC) has released a new multi-channel Digital
Delay/Pulse Generator, Model 565, which allows time reference selection for each
channel. Conventional digital delay generators use a time reference that is
automatically pegged to its trigger. Up to eight channels of delay and width
control are available with BNC s Model 565. Each individual channel s reference
can be set either to the trigger or to any other channel.

Selectable
time references allow the timing of several channels to be slaved to another
channel instead of the external or internal trigger. This capability can
minimize setup time and maximize efficient testing time. Examples include laser
applications such as particle image velocimetry (PIV), and laser fluorescence
(LF). These applications often use two or more lasers, flashlamps and
Q-switches. The timing between the lasers is the major variable.

To
illustrate the benefits of selectable references, consider a simple two-laser
setup. Each laser has a trigger for its flashlamp followed by a trigger for its
accompanying Q-switch. The time between the flashlamp and Q-switch are set by
their properties and once determined are fixed. With conventional delay
generators, changing the time between laser firings requires calculating new
delays for the flashlamp and Q-switch of the second laser and programming those
new numbers into the unit each time the spacing between the laser changes. When
diagnostics and/or data acquisition are slaved to the laser firings, another
item to be reprogrammed is added to the things-to-do list.

With
the BNC Model 565, the second laser s Q-switch is referenced to its flashlamp.
Changing the timing between lasers no longer requires changing the Q-switch s
delay.